your choice of entrées... and an appetizer or a dessert to share. ends soon...at red lobster. that's going to do it for us. >> here is "cnn newsroom" with kyra phillips. good morning everybody, it's 9:00 a.m. in the east and 6:00 a.m. in the west, let's get you going. when will it end? if it's not the gas pedals, it's the breaks. the sales used to be unstoppable, and now it may be the car itself. vietnam, 1969. >> have you gotten busted for smoking we had in school, now here is a place where you can

major in marijuana. anger management anyone? an unsatisfied customer drives the point home. see this. the prius, the next pr nightmare for toyota. and think the job scene could not get worse? the job numbers released minutes ago. saying no to big government and wasteful spending, our jim lacosta with that. the prius has a huge problem. toyota says a glitch could cause a delay when you step on the breaks. it's the same cars being

credited with toyota's cash could you. they made $1.7 billion last quarter, and toyota is now admitting it will take a huge beating due to the gas pedal nightmare. $2 million for repairs and lost sales. those are just numbers. what about the people that plut down 30 grand for something they are afraid to drive. >> it took off like a rocket, and i hit the breaks, and it had no affect. they are recalling the throttle and the accelerator mechanism and floor mats, but i don't believe it's the problem. we feel it's a loaded gun and it can happen anytime. we don't feel comfortable in it. >> eight toyota models recalled so far for sticky gas pedals. millions of cars.

it's unknown how many accidents were caused by the problem, and not surprisingly toyota says they're still safe to drive. and on capitol hill, this was said. >> my advice is if anybody owns one of these vehicles, stop driving it and take it to a toyota dealer because they believe they have a fix for it. >> did he say that? stop driving it. get to your dealer, because toyota thinks they could fix it. with time to ponder the point, would he stand by his statement? no. >> what i said in there was obviously a misstatement. what i meant to say, and what i thought i said was, if you own one of these cars or if you are in doubt take it to the dealer, and they will fix it.

is that good for everybody? >> we are not done with this. we will push for answers and clear things up for you. minutes from now, we look at the big questions, high stakes facing the automaker, and one woman shares her grief as well as an attorney that lays out his grieve yuns. ance are toyota owners being taken for a ride? a personal story of surviving heroining accidents. as well as the anxiety that seems to be growing every day with the story. prayers and politics for obama this morning. it's a annual tradition for the president and members of congress. this year's heisman trophy winnerer, tim tebow is in the crowd. he is will be back to business after that, and holding a meeting in the oval office.

and then scott brown has been on the talk show since he has been elected. the ae selection is supposed to be certified this morning meaning brown can be sworn in this afternoon. boy, just when you thought the job situation could not get worse, just moments ago, word of an unexpected jump in first time jobless claims. new claims for unemployment insurance rose 8,000 to 480,000. the fourth increase in the past five weeks. if you think that is bad, it gets worse. job losses in the horrible recession were under counted by close to a million jobs. stephanie elam joining us from new york. where is this information coming from? >> the government, kyra. it's for a lot of people out there, people on main street, i am sure they are going, yeah, we

knew this, it was a way worse recession when it came to jobs than people were saying. it's a period of 2008 going to march of 2009. and the bureau of labor statistics usually does this. they go back and relook at the numbers. another 824,000 jobs were lost during that period. and the government's current read something during that period we lost 4.8 million jobs. this would put us at 5.4 million lost during that period. the reason why they had to do this because as the monthly data was coming out, they said some information was not available. maybe somebody started a job in the middle of the year, and that all factors into the statistics. now they take all the information and put it together and do this. normally when they have to resize a number, it's a small change. that 12-month period, kyra, was

anything but normal. it was huge. it's when we went to the brink of another depression. and because of that, it was an unusual situation. and so that would take us to a new estimate of a loss of about 8 million jobs since the recession began, between 2007 and 2008. >> let's talk more about what we expect from tomorrow's report? >> yes, tomorrow is the big jobs report. we get the january numbers. the unemployment rate is expected to stay at 10%. however, as far as jobs being lost or added, analysts expect we should add 13,000 jobs, but i should point out there has been a lot of discrepancy. you have one group saying we should be slowing down in job losses and then another group saying losses will accelerate. the government will be out tomorrow morning, and will actually get to see the numbers and see what things look like

for january. but january of last year, we lost 741,000. >> did i say you were at the new york stock exchange or did i say you were in new york? >> i don't know, and i know it's confusing now. i am in new york. >> i just wanted to make that report again. that cut just rolls off my tongue. appreciate. a tough road ahead for toyota. is the number one car maker on a collision course with its customers? we will talk to one attorney laying the ground work for a possible court battle. and a doozy of a storm taking shape across the gulf of mexico. heavy rain across the southeast today and that will meet colder air across the mid-atlantic tomorrow. weather coming up. sustaining every living thing.

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in america, well, then how do you explain all this? chevy malibu, cobalt, silverado, and the all-new equinox. compare them to anyone. may the best car win.

president obama speaking at the national prayer breakfast. this has been going on for more than 50 years. it's a networking event in d.c., and it brings the president and members of congress and

diplomats, and thousands of military types along with leaders to incorporate not only faith, but also faith-based programs, what the president deems essential on his program. an ethics group, a particular ethics group in washington is asking that congressional leaders and the president move away from this breakfast due to religious and gay rights groups organizing competing protests. prayer events and also protests. we have our eye on that. we have not seen any live pictures so far from d.c. to boston to where more than one dozen cities are in on the protests. let's listen in a bit.

>> the "uss comfort," a lady asked what country do you come from? after my operation, she said, i will pray for that company. and in creole, a corpse member said the united states. god's grace and the compassion and decency of the american people is expressed through the men and women like that corpsmen. and as secretary clinton said, it's expressed through multiple faith-based efforts, by evangelicals at world relief,

and the american jewish world service, and main line proud opportunities. by americans of no faith and every faith, uniting around a common purpose, a higher purpose. it's inspiring. this is what we do as americans in times of trouble. we unite, recognizing that such crisis call on all of us to act, recognizing that there but for the grace of god go i, recognizing that life's most sacred responsibility, one affirmed, as hillary said, as to sacrifice something of ourselves for a person in need.

sadly, though, that spirit is too often absent when tackling the long term, but no less profound issues facing our country and the world. too often, that spirit is missing without the tragedy, the earthquake or tsunami, that can shake us out of complacency. we become numb to the day-to-day crisis. the slow-moving tragedies of children without food and men without shelter and families without health care, we become absorbed with our abstract arguments and idealogical disputes and the contests for power, and in the tower of bable, we lose the sound of god's voice.

let's acknowledge that democracy has always been messy, let's not be overly nostalgic, and divisions are hardly new in this country, and arguments about the proper role of government and the relationship between liberty and equality, and these things have been with us since our founding. and i am profoundly mindful that a loyal opposition, a vigorous back and fourth, a skepticism of power makes this work. so we should not over romanticize the past, but there is a sense that something is different now. that something is broken.

that those of us in washington are not serving the people as well as we should. at times it seems like we are unable to listen to one another. to have at once a serious and civil debate. and this erosion of civility in the public square shows division and distrust among the citizens and poisons the well of public opinion, and leaves each side little room to negotiate with each other, and makes politics where one side is always right or always wrong, when in reality neither side has a monopoly on truth. and then we lose sight of the children without food and the men without shelter and the families without health care.

empowered by faith, consistently, prayerfully, we need to find our way back to civility. and that begins with stepping out of our comfort zones in an effort to bridge divisions. we see that in many conservative pastors that are helping to lead the way to fix our broken immigration system, it's not what would be expected of them and yet they recognize in those immigrant families the face of god. we see that in the evangelical leaders rallying their congratulations to protect our planet, and we see it in the increasing recognition of progressionives that government cannot solve all our problems, and i am not talking about responsible fatherhood and

healthy marriage are integrul, but sketching out our prescribed roles along the political spectrum. that can help us regain a sense of civility. civility also requires relearning how to disagree without being disagreeable. understanding, as president said, that civility is not a sign of weakness, and now i am the first to confess i am not always right, and michelle will testify to that, but surely you can question my policies without questioning my faith. or for that matter, my citizenship. challenging each other's ideas can renew or democracy, but when

we challenge each other's motives, it becomes harder to see what we hold in common. we forget that we share at some deep level the same dreams, and even when we don't share the same plans on how to fulfill them. surely we can agree that nobody ought to go broke when they get sick in the richest nation on earth. we can take different approaches to ending inequality. we may disagree about gay marriage, but surely we can agree it's unconscionable to aur get lesbians or gays because of who they are, or as hillary

mentioned, like they do in other countries. prayer can buck us up when we are down and keep us calm in a storm, while prayer can stiffen our spines to sir mount an obstacle, and i am sure you i am praying a lot these days, but prayer can touch our hearts with humility and fill us with a spirit that brotherhood, and it can remind us each of us are children of an awesome and loving god. through faith but not through

faith alone we can unite people to serve the common good. that's why my office of faith-based and neighborhood partnerships have been working so hard since i announced it last year. we slashed red tape and built effective partnerships, from spear heading cooperation abroad. through that office we turned the faith-based initiative around and find a common ground among people with all beliefs, allowing them to make an impact and focus on what matters most. it's the spirit of civility that we are called up to take part in today, and that's what i am called up for. in people like these, and people are frustrated, and pundits

start shouting, and calling names, and it seems like it's impossible. these that believed in the brotherhood of man even when such a faith was tested. remember dr. martin luther king, not long after an explosion ripped through his front porch, and his wife and daughter inside, he rose and said love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend. in the eyes of those that denied his humanity, he saw the face of god. remember abraham lincoln on the eve of the civil war, forces gathering with a nation divided half slave and half free, he

rose to deliver the first inaugural saying we are not enemies but friends. though passion it has strained it must not break our bonds of affection. even in the eyes of the conf confederate soldiers, he said he had seen the eyes of god. one called for lessening prejudices and consill yating goodwill. and there he made the way for progress in truth. for the eyes that sought to silence a nation's conscious, he saw the face of god. yes, there are crimes of conscious that call us to action. yes, there are causes that move our hearts and offenses that steer our souls, but progress

does not come when we demonize opponents. progress comes when we open our hearts, when we extend our hands, when we recognize our common humanity. progress comes when we look into the eyes of another and see the face of god. that we might do so that we will do so all the time, not just some of the time, is my prayer for the nation and the world. thank you, and god bless you, and god bless the united states. >> president of the united states at the national prayer breakfast there in washington, d.c. drawing a bit of controversy. it's focused on the sponsor of the breakfast, an evangelical christian network, also known as the family, and it has ties for

uganda. there were reports more than a dozen cities would host prayer events by competing religious and gay rights group. so far we have not found live pictures. in the meantime, the president focusing on the power of prayer being empowered by faith, as leaders and military leaders gather. there is tim tebow. my guess is, he is a very out spoken christian and the football player that wears the bible versus boldly on his cheek when he plays ball. we will take a break.

stocks fell yesterday, halting a two-day rally, and wednesday's weakness expected to continue today, unfortunately. and we have a look at what is worrying investors as we wait -- i guess we just got the opening bell, right? did we hear it? >> the opening bell is on the

way. futures 80 points lower before the well. we got the weekly jobs report. that came out and solidified we will start in the red at the open. 480,000 americans joined the unemployment line last week, and that's the fourth increase in five weeks. walmart is the latest company to cut jobs. the retailer is slashing 300 administrative positions at the arkansas headquarters. that comes one day before the government releases its big monthly jobs report. they show businesses did hiring in january, but as we hear from stephanie early in the hour, there will be a huge downward rescission to previous jobs numbers. the government may have underestimated job losses between april 2008 and march 2009 by about 1 million. let's look at the right side today. cisco systems could lift the sector today. they reported a quarterly profit

and revenue that rose for the first time in more than a year. it's a sign businesses are spending more on technology. cisco is considered a bellwether indicator of what to expect from other tech companies, and right now cisco shares are up 2% almost, and we have encouraging sales numbers from retail stores. overall, we are looking at the industrial being down. happy thursday. we'll see how the markets do all day. >> thank you, alison. another day and another hit for the world's largest automaker. earlier today toyota expanded the recall to include the prius. meanwhile, safety experts in the u.s. say they are investigating a growing number of complaints that there may be problems with the vehicle's electronics. toyota owners are worried and frustrated and demanding

answers. chief among them, what did the car maker know and when did it know it? toyota executives may have to answer those questions under oath. >> reporter: driving the road in flint, michigan, this woman is haunted by her mother's last moments. >> she nicked that tree and the car went airborne and it was going 80 miles per hour and it hit the tree on the top and just went down. she died instantly. >> alberto, by all accounts was an extremely careful driver in good health. >> that's the first thing where i knew something had to be wrong, because my mother would never cross the street, because of the two-way traffic. >> reporter: witnesses say the car seemed to speed out of

control, and nobody knows why. it fits the description of incidents involving toyota vehicles. toyota recalled millions of cars, not including the model driven by alberto. they blamed floor mats and sticky gas peddles. but a growing amount of lawyers say that explanation does not fit. >> what i hear over and over and over again, i am driving down the road and my car takes off on me, and i apply the breaks and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. that's the pattern we have seen. >> i thicken ae quif klee, these recalls simply do not get to the core of the problems that toyota has. >> reporter: safety analysts john kaine looked at problems, and he believes the problem lies in the electronic throttle

system that controls the speed of the car. >> these are guided systems, and we know electronics fail and they do fail and will fail, and the problem with toyota, they have not built enough fail safe problems to insure the safety when a failure happens. >> reporter: and they ruled out any problem with the electronics. >> for the electronic control, we cannot come across any case where we found that there was a misfunction in some control system. >> reporter: they say the toyota recalls are disturbing in the limitations because they don't apply to all makes and models that allegedly experienced the acceleration program like the camry alberto was driving. >> based on your evidence, you are suggesting there are cars on the road that right now should be recalled?

>> i think the recalls cover less than half of the models and model years that need to be part of the recall. >> reporter: toyota says it bases recalls on defects that were identified and not reports of unintended acceleration. late wednesday there was a motion filed for a preliminary injunction demanding toyota recall the models affected and install an override break system to stop a car accelerating out of control. >> while everybody tries to figure this out, including toyota, i presume, we need a system so that the sudden accelerations do not become deadly accidents. that's what the break override system does. >> reporter: a system that possibly could have saved the life of guadalupe alberto. >> once in a while i come by this, just to say a prayer or just to come and look and remember the place where she died.

but it's very painful. it is still very vivid in my mind and heart. >> toyota says all new cars made next year will be programmed with the override break system. and toyota said it would install the break override system in what ats to millions of camrys and lexus models and said it was an extra measure of confidence. >> and so should not the those recorders similar to a black box let them know what is happening? >> yeah, they are not programmed specifically to detect unwanted acceleration, and even though they know it's a problem, and they are only to record the last five to six seconds before the air bag is deployed.

one attorney said they are programmed that way because it could allow the giant a lot of information to see why there is sudden acceleration. >> we appreciate it. we may see the tip of the iceberg, not just for toyota but for the government as well. now, we have our guest, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group. the transportation department is now opening an investigation into break problems for the 2010 model of toyota's prius. the japanese automaker came forward and announced design problems with the breaks in the popular hybrid that has been out on the market. now it opened up an additional investigation. help me out here. try and bring us piece of mind, especially if we own a toyota. we really don't know who to trust and what to believe at

this moment. toyota has known about this problem for a number of years, right? >> correct. they have known about it probably since 2004, at least, because that's when they were first sued. and when they are sued they pay a lot of attention to that. so i am very disappointed in toyota for delaying, for persuading the department of transportation to close the investigations it opened when consumer complaints came in in 2005, '06, '08, and now we have huge numbers of vehicles involved and enormous costs and people are scared to death. >> so if they knew about it for as far back as 2004, then the government had to know about it, right? where was the government in the investigations and trying to do something for the public? >> well, i am not sure the government knew in 2004, but they probably did right about then, or 2005. and the government was negligent

in my view, and they took a brief look, a casual look at these issues and opened six investigations and closed them at toyota's request. they kept a lot of information secret. and i think that it's refreshing that we have in the new administration, lahood and others being tough on the company and others as well, and this is a case of a severe problem. if have you a breaking loss, sudden acceleration, those are the kinds of cases the agency should jump on immediately and try to resolve as quick as possible. instead they let toyota get away with delaying and giving lousy excuses like people put their foot on the accelerator instead of the break. even in november or october when toyota submitted the papers on

doing the november recall for the floor mat and also the break override, which i think it shows it's an eex -- electronic problem. >> so what is happening here? why wouldn't the job -- why wasn't the job done properly on behalf -- we might understand the pr nightmare for toyota, but it seems like the government truly failed us? is this about money? is this about the economy? saving face? why wouldn't the public -- why wasn't the public more protected when this first became a serious problem? >> well, you know, it's a very curious thing. when the firestone explorer debacle occurred in 2000, they got more money and staff, and

more power. and yet they fell back into sort of an old bureaucratic habit of not paying attention to the issues or doing so as an every day routine, and not as a serious issue. they have subpoena power. they can get information, demand information or put people in jail if they don't get it from the company, from the suppliers ordealers. they can hire consultants or experts, who ever they want. they can put out consumer alerts and ask the public to let them know if they have the problem. they have enormous authority and they did not do the job. they were not the cop on the corporate beat. i think it had to do with the philosophy of the bush administration at least in part where they did not issue safety standards and do much enforcement. >> the public was definitely failed. you mention the secretary of transportation, ray lahood.

he comes out and says to the nation, don't drive your toyota, and then a couple hours later, oops, i did not mean that, you can drive your toyota. look, you were the head of nitza, and we had these investigations. should we drive their toyota or not? >> they could drive the car, but if they have a concern about it as the secretary said very appropriately, they should take it to the dealer. the dealers are getting parts, and if anybody thinks their car is dangerous, take it in there. if anybody experienced any hint that they have a problem with the accelerator or breaking, they should take them in immediately. if they have not, they should be aware of the problem, the potential for the problem, and if it occurs put it in neutral, immediately, so -- this is with acceleration, so the vehicle

engine does not race, and then bring the car to a stop and get it to a dealer -- call the dealer and have it towed to the dealer. >> thank you, and we appreciate your insight. time worked out perfectly as we get the breaking news with the prius. >> yeah, i am glad they are opening that one, johnny on the spot under the new administration. >> there is a little bit of good news there. thank you. appreciate it. next hour, a toyota owner speaks out. a personal story of surviving harrowing accidents as well as the anxiety that is growing every day. back in a moment.

top stories now. florida living up to the reputation of being the shark bite capital of the world. this time a kite surfer attacked by sharks. the man was already in cardiac arrest when a lifeguard tried to

save him. he died at the hospital. >> i cannot picture, anybody, let alone a friend being circled by sharks here in stuart, florida. obama's aunt fighting to be in the u.s. she is making her case before an immigration judge for a second time. she was ordered deported six years ago but never left. president obama said he did not know his aunt was living in the u.s. illegally, and she will not get any favors from her nephew. the president says, the law is the law. and prosecutors plan to charge conrad murray with involuntary manslaughter. he admitted to giving jackson a powerful sedative hours before he died.

secretary of state, hillary clinton, playing hardball. imagine that. that doesn't surprise us, playing hardball with iran concerning the three u.s. hikers held there. they have been detained more than six months. clinton shot down a proposal to swap them for iranians held in the u.s. here is why. >> as we have said repeatedly, we call on iran to release all the american citizens that they have currently detained. we believe they are being unjustly detained and they should be released without further delay. we also are very committed to, you know, making it clear to the iranians that they should do so on humanitarian grounds, since

the detentions of our citizens is baseless. so there are no negotiations taking place. >> the families of the three americans say they accidently strayed across an unmarked border in tehran. they are being held on espionage charges. the mid-atlantic states bracing for a storm. rob marciano tracking that for us in the severe weather center. hey, rob. >> we are getting a look at the storm gathering strength now. it's big and will get bigger as we go through time. the first on slot of it is in louisiana, and then through the mid-atlantic with heavy rain. this is tapping a lot of moisture in the gulf of mexico, and with that a moisture shield or rain shield that stretches all the way from the mexican border and then stretching into the piedmont there.

and this is thick stuff as far as top to bottom moisture in the atmosphere. a lot of water has potential to rain down and create flooding issues. there is not a lot of breaks in the action as far as what the radar is showing here. in new orleans, you can go up the i-59 corridor and it will stretch north and eastward. it's hitting dry air but eventually the rains will come down in the atlanta area heavy at times, and i suspect the airport will have delays. and check out this picture, tranquil and beautiful. the snow will be piling up by this time tomorrow with the sunshine going away relatively rapidly. and winter storms are posted for the boston-d.c. area. 20 inches of snowfall expected in the d.c., baltimore and philadelphia area.

that does not include sleet that will fall and will mix in a bit. and then during the month of december, a lot of deep moisture and low pressure taking in the same kind of path and intensifying as it does so running into cold air in the north. and then it will be right around d.c. and northward. and then where it snows is where it comes down heavy at times. on a lighter note, kyra, big game happening on sunday. >> what could that be? >> it's not the grand daddy of them all. i don't know what the the grand them all. i don't know what the nickname is. it's not the big dance. >> is there something going on? >> should be beautiful football weather. >> rose bowl, that's what it is. >> yeah, the super bowl. >> well, i threw you because there's no real super bowl graphic here. this is just your generic miami forecast. we're a little busy here. >> i'm just excited about the new orleans saints. what can i tell you. first time ever.

i'm hearing a couple of who dats. >> we've got a lot of who daddies in atlanta for sure. >> my indianapolis colts friends will be upset with me but you've got to go for the guys who have never made it. >> i'm going for the colts but god bless them both. >> this tease right here is just for you, rob. she looks good, but there's just something so fake about her, and cold. she didn't say a word to police when they questioned her either. >> my kind of woman. >> oh, you're so bad. all right, speaking of ladies, you know, you probably know these pretty well, i'm sure rob does too. as a matter of fact we all grew up with them. i know i did. i'm not sure if rob was playing with barbie. but snow white. yes, she and her band of dwarfs debuted on this day in 1938. can you name the seven dwarfs? i've got to tell you my writer gave me a quick pop quiz. i got sleepy, dopey and grumpy maybe because i feel all three of those sometimes. can you name the others?

sneezy, doc, happy and bashful. and who doesn't love bashful, come on. just so you know, the original snow white never named the dwarfs. they were named when disney made the cartoon version. hey, that iconic beauty that's been the companion of so many little girls, barbie. she has the zero size waist with no hint of aging lines or gray hairs. barbie turns 50 today. somewhere out there ken is still looking for a new sweetheart, though.

so you golf? do you have trouble keeping your head down? might be easier if an ex-porn star is staring back at you. oh, yeah, a guy in canada has come up with a set of golf balls that i guess you could say is a little different. the tale of the tiger mistress collection is what it's called. yeah, pics of tiger's alleged ladies right there on the balls makes a mulligan a much hotter proposition. hold on, one of the alleged dozen was upset enough to call gloria allred and threaten a lawsuit. >> as a victim of violence

myself, it bothered me to think that someone would be standing with a dangerous club in their hands and hitting a ball with my face on it. >> okay. there you have it. well, you can't really ticket a mannequin for impersonating a passenger, but if you could, this long island dummy is in some pretty big trouble. police say a real woman plopped it in the passenger seat so she could drive in the high occupancy lane. >> i said you've got to be kidding. an absolute mannequin that looked pretty good. >> she does look pretty good. she's pleading the fifth, apparently. so what gave her away? the sunglasses. it was a very cloudy day. here's some good recession news. we found a place where you can get a free meal. the heart stopper sports grill in delray beach, florida. yeah, you eat free if you weigh more than 350 pounds, so get busy. this place serves food that's pretty bad for you and celebrates it. you've got to have a super

computer to count the calories. they have a defibrillator on site, they serve chili cheese fries in a bedpan. you might want to have your cardiologist on speed dial before you go. let's check in with our correspondents working several stories for us right now. poppy harlow, you've got the story of the day when it comes to teasing. >> reporter: that is true, that is true. you know what, kyra, it's just like michigan cannot get a break when it comes to the auto industry. the deteriorating economy there. but you know what? reefer, that's right, pot might be the quick fix detroit needs. we'll tell you more at the top of the hour. and it might help you be hungry for chili fries served in a bedpan. hi, everybody, i'm rob marciano. we have a storm that's going to make a pretty good mess as well across parts of the mid-atlantic. that's all coming up in the next hour. and to make it clear, rob is

not smoking pot over there in the severe weather center. that's another story. also ahead -- okay, a new law, bad consequences. an inmate released from prison just days ago under an early release program. well, he's back behind bars, accused of attempted rape. if we don't know how many kids there are, how do we know how many classrooms we need? the census helps us know exactly what we need. so everyone can get their fair share of funding. we can't move forward until you mail it back. 2010 census

top stories now. prayers and politics for president obama. he says the nation's lawmakers need to be more civil to each other. that was the message this morning at the annual national prayer breakfast in washington. an ethics group has protested his appearance. the president said there's a feeling that something in washington is broken and lawmakers aren't getting the nation's business done. >> we become numb to the day-to-day crises, the slow-moving tragedies of children without food and men without shelter and families without health care. we become absorbed with our abstract arguments, our idea logical disputes, our contests for power.

and in this tower of babble, we lose the sound of god's voice. >> we'll have the controversial part of that prayer breakfast in a few minutes. the transportation department just announced it's opened an investigation into brake problems with the toyota prius. they previously said there were design problems with the brakes in that popular model. the government investigation will focus on allegations of brake failure over uneven roads, potholes or bumps. james ray under arrest. he's the self-help expert who used a sweat lodge as part of his program. three people died during one of his retreats in arizona last year. he's supposed to be in court today to face manslaughter charges. ray's attorney admits it was a terrible accident but says it wasn't a criminal act. so you're out of work, bills are stacking up, time is running out. could medical marijuana be the wonder drug for what ails you? pot is legally prescribed in 14 states and someone has got to grow the cash crop, right?

well, that economic opportunity has taken root in the hard-hit state of michigan. poppy harley, cnnmoney.com, joining us here with all the details. poppy? >> reporter: it's true, kyra. you know the auto industry in michigan yet to show any sign of hope. folks in michigan down and out, highest unemployment rate in the country, so what are they doing? looks like they're turning to an illegal drug, pot. it might be just the jump start this state needs. take a look. >> this is a strain they call vietnam 1969. >> reporter: the weed in travis williams' living room isn't getting him high or arrested. as a registered care giver, it's a job in a state with the highest unemployment rate in the country. >> it should be a pretty lucrative industry, you know. not street money lucrative, but enough to make a living. >> we've got a whole bunch of tops right here that all look

the same. >> reporter: it's here where williams learned a new way to make a buck after his construction business fell as rapidly as the michigan economy. he sees the legalization of medical marijuana as the quick fix detroit needs. >> as far as new industries, this is it for right now. >> reporter: this is it, medical marijuana. what about green technology or -- >> that's coming. >> reporter: or electric cars. >> that's coming, but that's going to take some years. so for right now when you've got to pay the mortgage, you can't wait a couple years. you have to move right now. >> reporter: when michigan voters put their stamp of approval on legislation legalizing medical marijuana in 2008, nick tenant are saw dollar signs. >> because of the economic climate in michigan, we are poised for growth. people are looking for a new industry to get into. >> reporter: show he founded the first medical marijuana trade school in michigan. unlike most businesses here, his is booming.

since it opened hundreds of graduated from the six-week $475 course which has been sold out the last few months. >> it's a new frontier and i'm excited to see this for the state. they need help, as much as they can get. >> reporter: but there's a clear catch-22 when it comes to what's legal and what's not. registered patients can smoke medical marijuana, but they can't legally buy it. and care givers can plant it, but they can't buy the seeds to grow it. >> it's like you think the government or the state is playing a joke on you. okay, marijuana is legal. but then they come bust you. >> reporter: the michigan department of community health, which oversees the program, admits the law is unclear. in a statement it says, quote, the michigan medical marijuana act has many gray areas that are causing much confusion about marijuana usage. the largest gray area is obtaining the drug. this is a problem that only the state legislature can resolve.

and, kyra, we asked is the state working to fix this clear problem in the law. what we've seen is three state senators from michigan come forward, put proposals out there for greater regulation of the program, but, kyra, according to the michigan department of community health there have been no other efforts to clarify this clear catch-22 in the law. it's amazing, you can grow it but, wait, you can't buy the seeds to do it. and you can smoke it but you can't legally buy it. >> all right, put in perspective, how popular is this in michigan? >> reporter: it's incredibly, incredibly popular. more than 15,000 people have applied for applications to either be a care giver or a patient since just april when this all started, and thousands and thousands of them still haven't gotten the cards to allow them to do this. travis williams, the man we profiled in the piece, he told me this morning on the phone he still hasn't gotten his care giver certification even though

he applied back in november. it gets down to logistics and bureaucracy. there's not enough people in the office to dole out these cards to meet the demand of people in michigan that want a job and want to do this to make a living. >> okay. we'll see how successful it turns out. thanks, poppy. so pot school, what do you think? green thumbs up or down? go to my blog, cnn.com/kyra and post your thoughts. a ground roots movement spreading like wildfire. >> you work for us. you work for us. you work for us. >> talking about those conservative tea party protests. tens of thousands of people have turned out for the rallies across the country. some of the most vocal within shouting distance of lawmakers in washington, and those lawmakers are listening. now the separate groups are coming together for their first convention. tea party convention kicks off in nashville, tennessee, today. the keynote speaker, sarah palin. it's the big week, but not all is rosie at the tea party.

cnn's jim acosta talks about the divide. >> kill the bill, kill the bill. >> reporter: take recession raging conservatives and independents. >> i think barack obama is anti-american. >> reporter: add a democrat to the white house. >> you think having the president dressed up as the grim reaper is a little over the top? >> no, i do not. there's nothing disrespectful about this. >> reporter: and you get the tea party. there is more brew in this rebellion against bailouts and big government than just scott brown's tea party infused upset in the massachusetts senate race. >> this is a major victory in what i would call the second american revolution. >> come on up, guys. >> reporter: mark and jenny beth martin, founders of the tea party patriots want this movement to blow the lid off capitol hill in this year's elections. they plan to back candidates who stand for tea party principles, and it doesn't matter if it's republicans or democrats standing in the way. >> i think if it had been john mccain, the same thing would have happened.

i truly belief that. >> i do too. >> reporter: in one year the tea party has gone viral from dozens to hundreds of loosely linked groups around the country. but they don't tell them what to do. that's not the tea party way. >> it's all bottom up. the real deal is there are millions of leaders out there leading this movement. >> reporter: there may be leaders in the tea party movement, but nobody is in charge. in fact rival groups from washington, d.c., to sacramento, california, are battling over who will carry the tea party banner. and that fight has some tea partiers feeling hung over. >> what do you think is happening to the tea party? >> well, i don't think the tea party knows what's happening to the tea party. >> reporter: sacramento tea party activist jim napp feels it's going to be hijacked by one of the established parties. >> i don't think there's any questions that the gop has their tentacles into the tea party. >> reporter: he points to the tea party express, the conservative bus tour that crisscrossed the country last

year. it's run right inside a republican political consulting firm. to the right sal russo runs the firm. to the left, joe runs the tea party express. their offices are side-by-side. >> reporter: do you think a lot of those tea party activists know that the tea party express is based in an office that's run by republican political consultants? >> i think what you'll find is at tea party rallies, a lot of those people who are mad at the republican party, many are republicans themselves, us included. >> reporter: you're republicans. >> yes. >> reporter: after spending $350 thousand to air pro-scott brown campaign ads, these republican consultants argue the tea party's home is the gop. >> the people who form this movement need a major political party. >> reporter: the movement's future is on the agenda at the first convention set for this

week. but even with tea party favorite sarah palin head lining the convention, it's being boycotted by some tea party activists, scoffing at the $550 admission fee. >> it wasn't the kind of grassroots organization that we are so we declined to participate. >> reporter: despite all that infighting, it's clear the tea party is on a roll. where it rolls, is anybody's guess. >> and joining me now from dallas, former congressman dick army. he's now the chairman of freedom works, a key organizer of some of the tea party rallies but not going to the national convention. mr. chairman, i want to know why? you were a driving force in this movement and you're not going to the convention. >> well, look, freedom works has been in the small government grassroots business since 1994. we had our hearts elevated, we were excited to see this outburst across the country, what are called tea party activists. the fact of the matter is it's the largest, broadest, most

diversified grassroots uprising perhaps in the history of the country, certainly with respect to to economic issues. it is multi facetted and nobody is in charge. when we decided in march of last year to hold an event in september in washington on the mall, we wondered if anybody would show up. the model was, look, we'll throw the party, we'll get the permits, we'll pay for the porta-potties, y'all come and make our voices be heard on this very important subject. the idea of freedom independence, liberation from government intrusiveness, responsible small government, these ideas were bigger than the man, bigger than the moment, bigger than any political party. now they're trying a different model in tennessee and we'll see what happens with that model. it's just a different approach. >> and the protests have gotten bigger and there are more of them. so i guess my question to you

is, you know, is this a legitimate organization or is this just a bigger protest movement? >> it's a movement. it's bigger than an organization. if somebody thinks they can get their arms around this and be in charge of it, i think they're really -- maybe they have been to michigan smoking medical marijuana or whatever. the fact of the matter is this movement is so large, what you have to look for, when does it make itself known and make an impact in a manner that is meaningful. for example, in massachusetts because the candidate was of himself a candidate by and large agreed with the principles of small government and fiscal responsibility and took the initiative of running a grassroots campaign, he was quite attractive to the grassroots activists known as the tea party folks. >> so is this movement a threat to the republican party? can it co-exist with the republican party?

>> well, the foundation believes in small responsible government, protecting individual liberty. these are part of both the republican party and this movement. if the republican party gets back to being the party of reagan, it will be the party that this movement can love. and the party is finding its way back there after two or three years of frankly disappointing performance. >> let me ask you, should the republican party then embrace the tea party folks in order to, you know, win big in 2010? is this the answer? >> no, they should embrace the great ideas that are, for example, embedded in our constitution, that have served this nation so well, that has made this nation the greatest blessing to the world in the history of the world. the ideas of limited government, responsible government, restraint of government and defense of individual liberty and efficiency, cost effectiveness in government, lower taxes that can follow from that.

embrace those ideas and then people across the nation who embrace them will once again embrace the republican party as they did with reagan in '80, as they did with the contract in '94. but the ideas are the compelling influence over the behavior of the participants. >> dick armey, we'll follow the first convention, that's for sure, see what happens. appreciate your time, sir. >> thank you. the president has harsh words for a cub tree that wants to send homosexuals to prison. we'll tell you about it. caused, one that could be fatal. but plavix helps save lives. plavix, taken with other heart medicines, goes beyond what other heart medicines do alone, to provide greater protection against heart attack or stroke and even death, by helping to keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots. ask your doctor about plavix, protection that helps save lives. [ female announcer ] people with stomach ulcers or other conditions that cause bleeding should not use plavix. taking plavix alone or with some other medicines, including aspirin, may increase bleeding risk, so tell your doctor when planning surgery.

certain genetic factors and some medicines, such as prilosec, may affect how plavix works. tell your doctor all the medicines you take, including aspirin, especially if you've haa stroke. if fever, unexplained weakness or confusion develops, tell your doctor promptly. these may be signs of ttp, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, reported sometimes less than 2 weeks after starting plavix. other rare but serious side effects may occur. this is what i love about cnn.com and the news pulse page. you never know what you're going to get. and now, well, with mel gibson, you never know what you're going to get with him. apparently he has made a few more remarks that are adding to

a controversy. it's the most popular story right now on cnn.com. what did he say? well, you're going to have to check out the news pulse section. second most popular story, another 800,000 jobs disappearing. we've been talking with stephanie elam about that. and the third most popular story right now, if you haven't seen it, jeanne moos did a very, i guess, very racy, well put together piece on the reporter reporting on the banking institutions and behind him, let's just say there were a couple of racy photos. you can check that out on cnn.com. just go straight to news pulse. it updates every 15 minutes. we'll try and stay in touch with that and what's breaking on cnn.com.

president obama says that uganda just doesn't get it. he came out with some strong criticism this morning for that place. the african nation is considering legislation that would send homosexuals to long prison terms action even death. ed henry at the white house. so let's talk about what the president said exactly, because there was talk that there were going to be a lot of protests from gay rights groups to this prayer breakfast this morning, ed. >> reporter: that's right, kyra. there were some protesters. i think the big picture here is the president was getting pressure from a liberal watchdog group who had been saying that the group that sponsors this breakfast, the fellowship foundation, has ties to this legislation in uganda that would have these harsh prison sentences for people who are homosexual and it could even lead to death, some of the sentences, not just long prison terms. so the president had been under

pressure to boycott this but this is a tradition that goes back to president eisenhower. rather than skip it altogether, the president went but did decide to speak out on this important issue. take a listen. >> we may disagree about gay marriage, but surely we can agree that it is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are whether it's here in the united states or, as hillary mentioned, more extremely laws that are being proposed most recently in uganda. surely we can agree to find common ground when possible, parting ways when necessary, but in doing so, let us be guided by our faith. and by prayer. >> reporter: the president noted that his secretary of state hillary clinton has spoken before him and also spoke out on this issue. what's interesting is it sort of fit into the broader theme of what the president was trying to

accomplish by saying that there should be more civility in politics, more reaching across the aisle. he's been talking about that a lot lately but obviously this is a unique forum to try to do that, a prayer breakfast that's an annual tradition where both parties do come together. a lot of republicans on that stage with him. also on that stage, tim tebow, the university of florida quarterback, former heisman trophy winner. my producer, a florida grad, saw at one point that tim tebow appeared to be signing some autographs for some members of congress. so whether the president's message about civility and coming together was heard by all these members of congress will still remain to be seen, kyra. >> we should point out too, tim tebow very outspoken about his christian faith. he's the one we see on the field with the bible verses right there in bold, black letters on his cheek. >> reporter: and in the super bowl he's going to be in an ad that's caused some controversy because it speaks out against abortion. he is very forceful in talking about that. he gave sort of the closing prayer this morning at the breakfast. so he's very much in the public eye on a lot of these big

controversial issues, kyra. >> ed henry from the white house. ed, thanks so much. knee deep in snow. maybe not where you are, but watch where you travel. it's either going to be a winter wonderland or a major headache. a forecast you need to hear. if you've driven off a toyota lot lately, you may soon be making a return trip. new problems and a new investigation. the counter... and choose any car in the aisle. unreal! oh yeah! whoaaa-- ( alarm sounding ) i'm sorry. you okay? my bad, mr. sapp. oh yeah. go national. go like a pro. brand over the last decade... ...is now over the counter at walmart as prevacid 24hr - to treat frequent heartburn. over the counter. unbeatable prices. talk about a relief. save money. live better. walmart. ♪ [ female announcer ] get the taste of a home-cooked meal at work with new marie callender's home-style creations. marie callender's home-style creations -- a little touch of home for lunch.

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snow, ice and rain, you name it. we've got all of that pretty much all across the country today. we'll have more in a minute. first, take a look at this. blinding snow did quite a number on the highways in albuquerque, new mexico. several highways had to be shut down. several students got a get out of school free pass. the storm is expected to taper off today, right, rob? >> at least in new mexico. this storm is moving slowly to the east. they got hammered in new mexico, northern parts of texas and now through oklahoma, kansas and nebraska. and that's really just the northern part of the system. these systems come out of the rockies and kind of fall apart briefly and then get their act together. some of that energy is being transferred down south into the gulf of mexico and really starting to gather some of that moisture and we're seeing a tremendous amount of rain begin to form in the clouds and drop out of those clouds and fall in

the form of rain across parts of the south. here it is on the radar scope. the precip shield from nebraska all the way down to the mexico border, so certainly a big deal of moisture here, especially as you get closer to the gulf of mexico. rainfall right now in parts of new orleans, back through the i-10 corridor. lafayette back through lake charles. so stretching now up towards atlanta. the rain shield beginning to now get into the carolinas. this will be on the increase throughout the day today and some of the rain will certainly be heavy at times. 1, 2, maybe as much as 3 inches of rain with this as it begins to stream off towards the north. the problem is it's going to get into some colder air. so when that happens, that rain is going to turn into snow and there are wonder storm warnings now posted for the d.c.-baltimore area. that's just been up as a watch meaning this snow will start tomorrow, increase tomorrow

night and probably last right on through saturday afternoon. 10 to 20 inches of snow potentially with this system. right in the same spots, kyra that, saw about 20 inches of snow the third week of december. so kind of a repeat performance here. most of it will stay south of new york, but they'll get a little piece. the brunt of the action will be philly back through d.c. it's going to be quite a snowstorm for those kids. unfortunately it will be over the weekend so no such thing as a snow day on saturday. >> just a fun day of making snowmen over the weekend, or snowwomen. i guess i should be politically correct. well, a retreat focused on the soul. everyone paid thousands of dollars. some never lived to regret it. >> and after me giving her mouth-to-mouth, i would breathe into her mouth, her stomach would go up. when it go back down again, she'd vomit into my mouth. >> we'll have the latest on the self-help guru now charged in the deaths. (announcer) a cold or flu can start fast.

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when it rains, it pours. toyota in trouble again. if you own one, you almost have to be wondering what's next. just about an hour ago the u.s. government announced a new investigation, this time looking at brake problems with the 2010 prius. toyota admitted there's a glitch in the system that could cause accidents. it's those very same hybrids that are toyota's cash cow. new numbers just out say they made $1.7 billion last quarter, but it won't last long. for the first time toyota admitting it's going to take a huge beating due to this gas pedal nightmare. $2 billion for repairs and lost

sales. but those are just numbers. what about the people who plunk down 30 grand of their hard-earned money for something they're now afraid to drive. >> i felt it take off like a rocket and i immediately hit the brakes hard and i was laid out, stretched out on the brakes, which had no effect. they're recalling the throttle and the accelerator mechanism, but i -- and floor mats, but i don't believe that's the problem. we feel it's an unsafe vehicle, it's a loaded gun, it could happen any time. we just don't feel comfortable in it. >> again, eight toyota models recalled so far for sticky gas pedals. millions of cars. it's unknown just how many accidents were caused by the pedal problem. not surprisingly, toyota says they are still safe to drive. making things worse and adding to the confusion is transportation secretary ray lahood. on capitol hill he was asked for his advice for toyota drivers. >> my advice is if anybody owns

one of these vehicles, stop driving it, take it to the toyota dealer because they believe they have the fix for it. >> all right. did he really say that, stop driving your toyota right now? basically telling millions of people to get right to the dealers because toyota thinks they can fix it? with some time to ponder the point, would lahood stand by his statement? no. >> what i said in there was obviously a misstatement. what i meant to say and what i thought i said was if you own one of these cars or if you're in doubt, take it to the dealer and they're going to fix it, okay? is that good enough for everybody? >> i guess good enough for television. in arizona a self-help guru due in court today to face manslaughter charges. the attorney for james ray says he'll be cleared in the deaths of three people who were taking part in a sweat lodge ceremony last year. investigators say that ray encouraged people to stay in the

sauna-like lodge even as they began vomiting and passing out. listen to this. >> it was like an absolute mash unit. helicopters coming down, you know. when he came out, the helicopters weren't there but at that time it was still bodies everywhere, passed out. and then he walked out of there looking like a million bucks. >> what was james ray doing during this time? >> watching. standing above and watching. they hosed him down and he said, oh, thank you. and then he walked past the guy who was screaming, saying -- he was earlier saying he didn't want to die and please don't let me die. when james walked by him, this guy said to james from his sitting down position, he goes i died. i literally died and i came back to life and james was like hey, all right, man. gave him high five. james i think was completely oblivious to the pandemonium that was taking place around that sweat lodge. >> what happened during the worst point of all this, the most horrifying point? >> my most horrifying point was

when the ambulances arrived and helicopters arrived and the paramedics came and they surveyed kirby brown and they put her in an ambulance instead of a helicopter. and that was the worst moment for me. >> because you knew that it was too late for her? >> yeah. and after me giving her mouth-to-mouth, i would breathe into her mouth. her stomach would go up. when it would go back down again, she would vomit into my mouth. and this happened four times. and i really thought i was going to bring her back. i really thought that she was going to survive. >> about 60 people attended ray's so-called spiritual warrior event in arizona last october. ray has built a multimillion dollar empire by teaching people about financial and spiritual wealth. we've all been all over this story for months and tonight we'll bring you the next wrinkle. larry king has a primetime exclusive tonight with james ray's attorney, brad brian, tonight at 9:00 eastern right here on cnn. don't ask, don't tell, but you better be prepared to wait. the pentagon says it's time to

lift the ban on gays serving openly in the military. time, that is, after a year-long review. we wanted to get reaction from two career military vets. they're gay and they're hoping that that repeal will save their futures. >> well, this is definitely the farthest we've come with regard to lifting the policy, but it still hasn't been lifted. we're talking about a year-long review. victor, is that a step in the right direction? is that enough or is that just ridiculous? >> well, like you said, kyra, this is a historic day. this is the first time we've had senior military leaders, especially at this level, take these positive steps. i realize this is just an initial step and we do have a long way to go. i do agree, a review may be necessary. just because i know that there are some important issues that are going to need to be addressed. however, i think a year long is just way too long and the reason i say that is, you know, we've got 25-plus allies who have done

this. some of our allies have lifted their bans 10, 15 years ago and already addressed these issues and concerns and found solutions. so to me it seems like we could just pick up the phone, ask those questions and find those solutions. to me that seems like it would take 30, maybe 60 days. >> julie, what do you think? >> i was actually quite disappointed when senator gates and admiral mullen were talking about a year-long working group on an issue that clearly as the lieutenant colonel was stating, we have evidence with our nato allies the impact of allowing gays to serve openly. i think the frustration for me in that hearing was to hear certain senators basically say that they are proud of the service that gay service members have, you know, are currently committed in doing and at the same time they're saying, well, yeah, we honor your service, we appreciate your service, but at the same time the hypocrisy of

not allowing us to just be ourselves. it was extremely frustrating. >> critics of repealing the ban say this isn't even the time to consider such drastic action since the military is currently fighting wars in both iraq and afghanistan. straight ahead, three cities, three jobs, three job seekers, one chance. we've got people from salt lake, washington and dallas ready to sell you their skills. it only takes 30 seconds apiece. also timing is everything, especially when your little buddy comes tumbling out of a second-floor window. create your own business site with intuit websites. just choose a style, then customize, publish and get found. sweet. get a 30-day free trial at intuit.com.

and just think, six years ago yesterday you had no friends, no status, no walls to write on, but six years ago today that changed. facebook launched february 4th, 2004, from t a dorm room at harvard. it was around this time the noun friend also became a verb as in friend me, i'm on facebook. today it has some 350 million active users. 

the nation's job picture not looking so good. the government announced an unexpected jump in first-time unemployment claims. the labor department says it rose by a thousand. that's to 480,000. that's the fourth increase in the past five weeks. scott brown about to drop the elect part of his senator title. the massachusetts republican will be sworn in late this afternoon to take ted kennedy's seat. the election results were certified this morning. brown originally planned to be sworn in next week, but it got moved up to today. here's a story we think will grab you. a toddler saved by his big brother's friend. the little guy was fooling around, fell out of a second-floor window. lucky for him his big brother's friend happened to be outside and grabbed him just before he hit the ground. >> he was trying to be cute and funny and hitting the screen with his hands and putting his face against it. then he hit it even harder and fell.

>> people think stuff like that can't happen and it can easily happen. >> here's the good news. the family fixed that window so it can't open so far. okay. out of work, looking for a job? we're here to help. time for our 30-second pitch, connecting job hunters with employers. michael jonas is in d.c. he's hoping to find work in communications and public interest. dug powers joining us from are dallas looking for a job as a manager of benefits or compensation. and paula lee roberts is in salt lake city trying to find a job as a consultant or some type of job in management. all right, michael, let's start with you. what has been the hardest part of not being able to find a job, and did you see it coming? >> i would say just preparing for education and experience and then reaching a point where everybody that applies to that job has education and experience. just hoping to get called back, i mean just that alone is definitely a good thing and a start in the right direction. but a lot of employers, they're

getting thousands of resumes and waiting forever to call people back. >> doug, what about for you, is it the same thing? are you seeing it tough to even get in the door and get that interview? >> i think michael is correct. i've gotten the interviews, but the competition is enormous. it's usually six candidates that are being interviewed relative to three years ago when it was three candidates being interviewed for a position. it's just competition. >> paula lee roberts, how about for you, are you agreeing with the guys? what have you noticed? what's been the toughest part of getting that job? >> good morning, kyra. it is difficult. like he said, there's lots of competition. i've been lucky to get some interviews but just haven't landed that permanent full-time position yet. >> were you prepared for it, paula? >> actually no, i was not. it was really surprising to find that i wasn't able to get a job. i've never had this problem before. with the economy the way it is, it's really been really disappointing. >> well, let's get down to

business and try to get you guys in some jobs. michael jonas, we'll start with you. start the clock, take it away. >> hi, everybody. i'm michael jonas, i'm the media and public interest guy. i have degrees in psychology and law. i have experience with reporting, event planning, nonprofit programming, marketing and various forms of other communication and conflict resolution. if i could be like someone, it would be oprah winfrey. i would love to follow in her footsteps and use communication and humor to bring people together. i'm michael jonas, the public interest and media guy. you can e-mail be at care career4jonas@gmail.com. >> and you're just as handsome. hopefully oprah winfrey is paying attention and oprah will call you for a job. doug powers are you ready? >> yes, ma'am. >> all right, take it away. >> kyra, i'm doug powers. i'm a compensation benefits professional. i do have a cpa.

as benefits manager, my strengths are designing a health plan that lowers routinely decreases expense 10% yet remains competitive. managing the various vendors, decreasing premiums with financial insurance companies and as a compensation manager increasing -- decreasing expense 5%. i'm looking for a position with a company 1 to 10,000 regardless of the industry. >> okay. paula lee roberts, you're going to be the ringer here. you're the final 30-second pitch. go ahead, paula lee. >> i'm paula lee roberts. i'm a mechanical engineer with an mba. i've worked in the aerospace, defense and transportation industries. i like to find a position in management in the united states or internationally. my competencies are design, manufacturing, process improvement and technical writing. i have excellent communication and analytical skills.

i'm hands-on, results oriented, strategic thinker and a team player and i'd like to be challenged. >> there you go. and two extra seconds. right on the money. michael jonas, doug powers, paula lee roberts, you can go to our blog, get your e-mails. guys, please keep us updated. >> thank you. >> you bet. if you want to make a pitch, just send your resume and letter to 30-second pitch at cnn.com. okay. an express ticket to china. a couple of natives heading home. what's awaiting them? lots of sex. if they're in the mood. live pictures as the plane gets ready to take off. [ crowd gasps ] [ announcer ] if you think about it, this is a lot like most job search sites.

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or high blood pressure before taking advair. we had a great day, grandpa! we sure did. ask your doctor how advair helps improve lung function for better breathing. (announcer) find out how to get your first full prescription free at advaircopd.com. time to get busy. a pair of pandas headed to their native land of china. we think they are actually in those fedex boxes. they're leaving -- with holes, of course, the zoos in atlanta and washington. that's tai shan right there preparing for the special ride on the panda express. isn't that a chinese restaurant? here's what he looks like out of the cage. once they get to their new homes, it's breeding time. there could be one problem upon arrival, mei lan only

understands english so they're looking for interpreters. we're following the plane, the live pictures, the trip, the adventure. rob marciano, doesn't that just tickle your fancy? >> oh, that's just always cute stuff. >> warm and fuzzy. >> i think there's a panda express, multiple panda expresses and panda gardens in just about every city across america. which implies that americans eat a lot of panda but i'm certain that's not the case. >> first you cause trouble with punxsatawney phil, now it's the pandas. >> at the very least i want to give equal time to every cute and cuddly animal out there. >> how's the weather looking? >> cold air in place across the northeast and moisture that's heading in that general direction. so that's a combination for another major snowstorm that's set to develop here over the next 48 hours. we're seeing lighter amounts of snow across the mid-plains. we've seen a decent amount of snow from new mexico across northern parts of texas.

now it's on the move and againi beginning to mor pchph a little. the heavier amounts of rain is being thrown at the city of new orleans, which, you know, has reason to party for sure. they'll be partying in the wet streets today at least and probably through tonight as well. rain beginning to intensify across the atlanta area and streaming into the north carolina area. we're not really subfreezing until you get well into virginia. as a matter of fact, the virginia-maryland border is pretty much the rain-snow line at this moment. so as far as concentrating on the rain is concerned, a decent amount. potentially a flooding amount from new orleans up through central parts of georgia and in through south carolina, could see a couple three inches of snow or rainfall. all rain south of certainly virginia. as far as what this storm is going to do when it hits that cold air, it's going to turn into snow. along the appalachians a mixture

of rain and snow, sleet and freezing rain. then you get into the beltway and we're talking about the potential of seeing 10 to 20 inches of snow with this system. timeline is for the snow to begin sometime shortly after the rush tomorrow and then increase throughout the day, probably a half a dozen or so inches on the ground by tomorrow night and then 10 to 20 total by the time this thing winds up on saturday. i want to point out one other thing with this. if you're not getting rain or snow with this, say delaware, the south jersey coastline, you'll get a mixture of rain and sleet mixed in with that snow but you're also going to get a decent amount of wind through the chesapeake bay area, so this one, kyra, is going to wind up to be much like the one we saw the end of december. so at that time we were saying this was an incredible storm. the d.c. area had seen three times the amount of snowfall that they should see by this time. so unusual winter for them. certainly one that a panda --

panda fur would help if you're a panda. >> you mentioned that the pandas are so cute and cuddly, right? well, you know doug our writer, he's cute and cuddly. he loves the panda story. doug, turn around and say hello. go ahead. go ahead, doug. go ahead. now, if you could see doug besides the silhouette, if he would turn around and smile, he is cute and cuddly like a panda. >> i wasn't going to say that, but i was thinking that. turn him around don lemon. get him to face the camera. doug is also very strong like a panda. >> yes, he is strong like a bull and strong like bear. >> we're going to cut him some slack. he's on the panda beat. it's just a softer side. thanks for playing, rob. oh, we got him. outstanding. thanks for the investigative camera, robert. all right, step away from that laptop, all right, it could make you happier.

maybe we should have doug looking at the laptop. british researchers looked at internet use and depression levels in more than a thousand people ages 16 to 51 and the study's lead author says there's a link between the amount of time spent on the internet and levels of depression. the author adds that it's hard to know if going online actually causes depression or if those people who are depressed are simply drawn to the internet. give it a try. log off, get happy. marijuana, it's not just for stoners anymore. we'll tell you how medical pot is becoming a cash crop, legally. heck, there's even a special college for it. mary! hey!

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you remember the movie "fast times at ridgemont high" how about some fast money at cannabis college. this course in michigan teaches people how to legally grow pot for users of medical marijuana. pot is prescribed in 14 states and nowhere are the jobs more appreciated than in michigan. the state is wrestling with the highest unemployment rate in the country. today's blog question, your thoughts on the medical marijuana school opening in michigan. here's what zara had to say. give michigan a break. let them grow and sell marijuana and find a way for both citizens and the government to make some money. and from carl, medical marijuana is a copout for the user to use an illegal drug without being guilty of a crime. from tyler, if the amount of money spent trying to prevent these entrepreneurs from growing was combined with the revenue that could be generated by taxing its growth and sale, michigan would find that this is a viable way of filling the void caused by the failing